Donor Newsletter June–July 2016 PittsburghParks.org
You made paradise and dug up a parking lot Schenley Plaza turns 10
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here do you spend sunny weekend afternoons, take visiting relatives, or go for unique date nights? A parking lot? We didn’t think so.
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hen Mary Schenley gifted her land to the City in the 1880s, it was with two provisions: that it be made into a park bearing her name and that it never be sold. In 1891 the City purchased an additional 19 acre section (called Mt. Airy Tract) from Schenley and imagined a grand entrance to the park with a national design competition. In 1917 a plan for Schenley
photo credit Scott Roller
t’s hard to imagine Oakland without the Plaza. Thanks to groundbreaking supporters like you, we don’t have to.
Plaza was selected.
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he paved portion of Schenley Plaza grew along with neighboring institutions and the popularity of the Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field until it became a parking lot.
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n 2006, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy in partnership with the City,
ENGAGE contact Kathleen Gaines at kgaines@pittsburghparks.org or 412.682.7275 x213
community partners, and supporters like you once again envisioned a grand entrance to Schenley Park. This time, that dream was realized. With a $10 million renovation, the asphalt parking was restored to a reimagined Schenley Plaza, the green heart of Oakland, and welcomes more than 500,000 visitors each year.
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isit any major city, and you’ll see people flocking to open, welcoming places where they can eat lunch in the sun, play checkers, listen to live music, and relax. Thanks to you, most of the people flocking to our “livable” city can’t believe this paradise was ever paved.
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Park champions like you
Donors make PNC Carousel possible Toofus the Tiger member of Scaife family
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y husband, David, and I were so excited to see the old parking lot developed into a park,” Sara remembers. Their gift, along with you, PNC, and the other carousel donors, gave children in Pittsburgh a carousel close to home.
photo credit Lauryn Stalter
love the fact that Schenley Plaza is a beautiful spot of green in the middle of Oakland,” says Sara Scaife. “The carousel makes it a destination for families with young children.” The Scaife family adopted the tiger ten years ago, and named
him “Toofus” after their beloved snaggle-toothed dog at home.
Toofus is a popular ride in Schenley Plaza
Programs you make possible
Free Schenley Plaza Programs Mondays at noon and Saturdays at 10 am. Tai Chi is offered Sundays from 10–11 am.
You support favorite park activities our support makes hundreds of free programs available in Schenley Plaza each year. In the spring and summer months there is something to do every day.
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ree Kid’s Days are offered the second Sunday of every month starting May 8th through October 9th. Families can enjoy free rides on the PNC Carousel and dozens of other kidfriendly activities.
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he WYEP Music Festival and Final Friday concerts are some of the most anticipated events of the year. This year’s music festival was June 28th. There is still time to
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n behalf of the thousands of people who love these free programs, thank you.
photo credit Melissa McMasters
he Farmers’ Market in Schenley Plaza hosts approximately a dozen local vendors including Christoff’s Farm, Dillner Farm and the uniquely beautiful A519 Chocolate. The market is open in the Library Bosque beside the lawn every Friday, starting on June 3rd and ending on October 21st.
photo credit John Altdorfer
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enjoy the music. Final Friday concerts will be July 29th and August 26th. We are thrilled to have WYEP returning to the Plaza.
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ore than 500 people take advantage of free yoga presented by Folding Space Yoga on
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy | June – July 2016
Free yoga in partnership with Folding Space Yoga.
You transform our cherished spaces
Then and Now: Schenley Plaza
Plaza restored to original purpose
NOW
photo credit Lauryn Stalter
Schenley Plaza 1914
THEN
photo credit Jeremy Marshall
PNC Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Spring Hat Luncheon Event raised $545,000 for your parks Gold Sponsors
Diamond Sponsors Ritchie Battle Susie Dorrance EQT Ramsey & Mike Lyons
Audrey Hillman Fisher Cindy Akers Gerber Howard Hanna Real Estate Services Pittsburgh Magazine Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix PJ Dick & Trumbull Corporation University of Pittsburgh
Emerald Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Nadine E. Bognar Charlene Petrelli Gabriela Porges Christy C. Wiegand & Barbara M. Wiegand
Vivian & Bill Benter Eden Hall Foundation EverPower Wind Holdings, Inc. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
Macy’s Susan Nernberg Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP Reed Smith LLP UPMC Health Plan
photo credit Mia Pink
photo credit Melissa McMasters
Presenting Sponsor
Bronze Sponsors 84 Lumber Company/ Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa Allison McGeary Floral & Event Design Bartlett Tree Experts Debra Kline Demchak Eat’n Park Hospitality Group Gus & Annie Hanna Engel Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh
2016 Co-Chairs: Christy Wiegand, Charlene Petrelli, Ramsey Lyons, Kiya Tomlin, Emy Mack Jamison
Federated Investors Foundation Inc. Giant Eagle Inc. Emy Mack Jamison Koppers Levin Furniture Sloan & Alexander Overstrom
Simpson & McCrady Uptown Sweats by Kiya Tomlin Philip H. & Betty L. Wimmer Family Foundation
www.pittsburghparks.org
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Your parks, your stories
Runners start a legacy in Schenley Park Schenley Oval Track Club
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n 1976 Tom Solomich and his friends struck up a plan to meet at the oval on a Saturday morning. The Schenley Oval Track Club (SOTC) was born. Over the years, every weekend, runners of all abilities would meet to run upwards of 10 miles at the track and throughout the trails of Schenley Park.
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arathon runners hate looking straight ahead. Schenley provides spotless trails,” says Tom, which gave these runners miles of “canopy from the summer sun and varied terrain.” Even in the
middle of winter, “Life was beautiful in the freezing cold,” says SOTC member Linda Ruckert. Tom laughs as he remembers his coldest run at 22 degrees below.
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he SOTC has witnessed the difference your support makes in Schenley Park, “The limestone trails, the carousel, the beautiful flowers and trees. It’s
The Schenley Oval Track Club has existed since 1976.
After member Ray Olmo passed, the group dedicated bricks in Schenley Plaza.
really been well taken care of over the years,” says Linda. “This is why the SOTC was able to maintain a steady running schedule for 30 plus years.”
starting at the Oval, accompanied for the first time by Ray’s daughter, and ending at his brick. Afterwards, they dedicated a brick for each SOTC member.
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n 2015, longtime member Raymond Olmo passed away and the group dedicated a brick in his name at Schenley Plaza. They held a memorial run
lthough only two members still run, the group continues to meet at Schenley Plaza –where their names and the spirit of their group will live on for years.
Schenley Plaza celebrates 10 years $10
Like most 10-year-olds we would love cash for our birthday Support the beautiful gardens, carousel and free programming in Oakland’s back yard with your gift
I would like to give $10 to honor 10 years other amount:
Name Address City
State
Phone E-mail Or visit www.pittsburghparks.org/donate and select Schenley Plaza
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Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy | June – July 2016
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